Anchoring plate for a closure device for a sports footwear

ABSTRACT

An anchoring plate for a closure device for a sports footwear and a closure device for a sports footwear incorporating such anchoring plate are provided. The anchoring plate comprises—in addition to a body provided with hooking seats for the hooking member of the tensioning member of a closure device—an extendable member which is movably connected to the body and is provided with at least one additional hooking seat. In this way, a closure device incorporating the anchoring plate can move from a configuration in which the user&#39;s foot is firmly held inside the sports footwear to a configuration in which the user&#39;s foot has a certain freedom of movement inside the footwear, and in either of the configurations the elements of the closure device are retained in some way, so as not to be of hindrance to the user.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to an anchoring plate for a closure device for a sports footwear.

The present invention also relates to a closure device for a sports footwear comprising such an anchoring plate.

As is known and as is schematically shown in FIG. 1, ski boots 100 (and other sports footwear provided with a substantially rigid outer shell) have a longitudinal opening 102 allowing to widen the outer shell 104 to allow the user to introduce the foot into the footwear and pull it out from it and they are provided with a plurality of closure devices 110 which are arranged transversely to said longitudinal opening and by means of which it is possible to close the footwear so as to immobilize the user's foot inside the footwear during sports practice.

In general, said closure devices 110 comprise a supporting plate 112 adapted to be rigidly fixed to a first side of the longitudinal opening of the shell, a closure lever 114 hinged to said supporting plate and a tensioning member 116 which at a first end is hinged to a central portion of the closure lever and at a second end 116 a is provided with a hooking member for engagement with an anchoring plate 118 (for example in the form of a rack) which is rigidly fixed to a second, opposite side of said opening of said shell.

According to prior art, when the user is skiing, the closure devices are in the closed position and the hooking member of the tensioning member is firmly engaged with the anchoring plate; on the other hand, when the user is not skiing, the closure devices are in the open position and the hooking member of the tensioning member is released from the anchoring plate so that the opening of the shell can be widened so as to increase the comfort of the user when resting and allow bending of the instep during walking.

However, this known solution is not free from drawbacks.

Indeed, the fact that in the open position of the closure devices the corresponding tensioning members are not bound in any way can be of hindrance.

While this problem can be annoying in the case of alpine ski boots, it is significantly disadvantageous in the case of ski mountaineering boots.

In fact, in the case of ski mountaineering, the user walks for long distances while practicing sports (and not only when relaxing), and the fact that the open closure devices are of hindrance when walking is a significant problem.

The main object of the present invention is therefore to overcome the limits of prior art by providing a closure device for sports footwear that can move from a position in which the user's foot is firmly retained inside the footwear to a position in which the user's foot has a certain freedom of movement inside the footwear and that is not of hindrance to the user in either of said two positions.

This and other objects are achieved by the anchoring plate for a closure device as claimed in the appended claims and by a closure device incorporating such an anchoring plate.

SUMMARY

The anchoring plate according to the invention comprises a body provided with hooking seats for the hooking member of the tensioning member of a corresponding closure device, and an extendable member which is movably connected to said body and is provided with at least one hooking seat for the hooking member of said tensioning member.

By using closure devices incorporating respective anchoring plates according to the invention, when the user's foot has to be firmly retained inside the footwear, the hooking member of the tensioning members is engaged in one of the hooking seats of the respective anchoring plates and the extendable members of said anchoring plates are maintained in the retracted position; on the other hand, when it is preferable that the user's foot has a certain freedom of movement inside the footwear, the extendable members of the anchoring plates are brought to the extracted position and the hooking member of the tensioning members of the respective closure devices is received in said at least one hooking seat of said extendable members.

In this second configuration, the user can move the foot inside the footwear (in particular he/she can flex the instep of the foot), and at the same time the closure devices are not of hindrance.

In order to allow a closure device to firmly maintain this second configuration, the at least one hooking seat of the extendable member of the anchoring plate according to the invention is advantageously provided with a restraining element for the hooking member of the corresponding tensioning member, which restraining element prevents accidental release from said hooking seat. In other words, said restraining element opposes a positive resistance to the accidental release from said hooking seat.

Preferably said restraining element is an elastic restraining element, so that the user has to overcome the elastic force of said restraining element in order to insert the hooking member of a tensioning member into said at least one hooking seat and—above all—to extract said hooking member therefrom.

In this respect it is to be noted that documents EP 705 545 and EP 766 933 disclose closure devices for sports footwear that include anchoring plates provided with an extendable member that has a seat for the hooking member of the tensioning member of the closure device itself. However, in the above mentioned documents, the presence of said extendable member has the sole function of facilitating the closure of the sports footwear, allowing the user to partially bring the two portions of the shell at opposite sides of the longitudinal opening of the shell itself closer to each other during the closing operation.

In EP 705 545 and EP 766 933 the seat of the extendable member is not provided with any restraining element for the hooking member of the tensioning member and, as a consequence, it cannot firmly retain said hooking member during use of the sports footwear.

Reverting to the above mentioned example of the ski mountaineering boot, the seat of the extendable member described in EP 705 545 or in EP 766 933 would not be able to firmly hold the hooking member of the respective tensioning member while the user climbs a slope by walk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention will become clearer from a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention itself, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a sports footwear provided with a plurality of closure devices according to prior art;

FIG. 2a is a front view of an anchoring plate according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, shown with the extendable member in the retracted position;

FIG. 2b is a front view of the anchoring plate of FIG. 2a , shown with the extendable member in the extended position;

FIG. 2c is a rear view of the anchoring plate of FIG. 2 b;

FIG. 2d is a side view of the anchoring plate of FIG. 2 b;

FIG. 3a is a front view of a closure device for sports footwear incorporating the anchoring plate of FIGS. 2a-2d , shown in a first configuration;

FIG. 3b is a front view of a closure device for sports footwear incorporating the anchoring plate of FIGS. 2a-2d , shown in a second configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to FIGS. 2a-2d , an anchoring plate 1 for a closure device for sports footwear is schematically shown.

Said anchoring plate 1 comprises a body 3 which is provided with at least a through hole 19 for the passage of fastening elements for fastening said body to the shell of a sports footwear and which has a plurality of hooking seats arranged in different positions, so that the tensioning member of a corresponding closure device can engage with the body of said anchoring plate 1 in a plurality of different positions. For instance, the body 3 of the anchoring plate 1 may be configured as a rack comprising a plurality of teeth 5 arranged in series and defining corresponding hooking seats 7 for the hooking member of a tensioning member of a closure device.

Depending on the used hooking seat 7, the shell of the sports footwear can be tightened to a greater or lesser extent depending on the morphology of the foot of the specific user.

According to the invention, the anchoring plate 1 further comprises an extendable member 9 which is movably connected to the body 3 of said plate, so that it can move from a retracted position (FIG. 2a ) to an extracted position (FIGS. 2b-2d ).

As shown in FIG. 2c , for this purpose it is possible for example to provide that the extendable member 9 is provided with an elongated slot 11 and that the anchoring plate 1 includes a pin 13 passing through said slot 11 and penetrating into the body 3 of said plate, so that the pin 13 slides within the slot 11—between the two opposite ends of said slot—when the extendable member 9 moves from the retracted position to the extracted position and vice versa.

It is evident that other arrangements for connecting the extendable member 9 to the body 3 can also be used. For example, it is possible to provide that the extendable member is pivotally connected to the body 3, so as to move from the retracted position to the extracted position and vice versa through a rotation movement instead of a translation movement.

At its distal end, the extendable member 9 is provided with at least one hooking seat 15 for the hooking member of a tensioning member of a corresponding closure device. In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, said hooking seat 15 is obtained by bending the distal end 9 a of the extendable member 9 into a hook shape.

According to the invention, said at least one hooking seat 15 of the extendable member 9 is provided with a restraining element 17 adapted to retain at their inside said hooking member of said tensioning member.

Said restraining element 17 acts as a safety element preventing accidental release from said hooking seat 15.

Preferably, said restraining element is an elastic restraining element 17, so that the user has to overcome the elastic force of said restraining element 17 to insert the hooking member of a tensioning member into said at least one hooking seat 15 and to extract said hooking member therefrom.

In the illustrated embodiment, the elastic restraining element is obtained by cutting a U-shaped opening 17 a in the body 9 of the extendable member and thus defining an elastic tab 17 b. Said elastic tab is then deformed to obtain a bulge 17 c (clearly visible in FIG. 2d ) oriented towards the distal end 9 a bent into the hook shape of the extendable member 9 and facing it, so as to obtain a narrowing at the mouth of the hooking seat 15.

It is evident that the elastic restraining element can also be obtained in any other way within the reach of the person skilled in the art, and it is also evident that the restraining element could also be of a different nature, for instance a mechanical restraining element. For example, the hooking seat 15 could be provided with a mechanical element that can be made to move from a first position in which it leaves the access to said hooking seat free to a second position in which it blocks the access to said hooking seat.

In FIGS. 3a and 3b a closure device 21 incorporating an anchoring plate 1 according to the invention is shown.

In a manner known per se, said closure device 21 comprises a supporting plate (not visible in the Figures), provided with through holes for the passage of fastening elements for fastening said supporting plate to the shell of a sports footwear. A closure lever 25 is pivotally connected to the supporting plate by means of rotation pins and has a gripping portion 25 b that the user can grasp for controlling the rotation of the closure lever itself. The closure device 1 also comprises a tensioning member 27 which at a first end is hinged to the closure lever 25 and at the second, opposite end has a hooking portion provided with a hooking member 29.

More particularly, in the illustrated embodiment the hooking member of the tensioning member 27 comprises a transverse bar 29 adapted to engage in one of the hooking seats 7 of the body 3 of the anchoring plate 1 or in the at least one hooking seat 15 of the extendable member 9 of said anchoring plate.

The supporting plate and the anchoring plate 1 of the closure device 21 are intended, in use, to be fastened to the shell of a sports footwear, on opposite sides of the longitudinal opening of said shell.

In FIG. 3a , the closure device 21 is shown in a first configuration in which the hooking member 29 of the tensioning member 27 is engaged in one of the engagement seats 7 of the body 3 of the anchoring plate 1 and in which the extendable member 9 of the anchoring plate is in the retracted position.

In this configuration, the two portions of the shell at the opposite sides of the longitudinal opening will be maintained close to each other and the user's foot will be firmly held inside the shell of the sports footwear.

In FIG. 3b , the closure device 21 is shown in a second configuration in which the hooking member 29 of the tensioning member 27 are engaged in the hooking seat 15 of the extendable member 9 of the anchoring plate, which extendable member 9 is in the extracted position.

In this configuration, the two portions of the shell at the opposite sides of the longitudinal opening may be more distant from each other than in the configuration of FIG. 3a , so that the user's foot will have a certain freedom of movement inside the shell of the sports footwear.

It is evident from FIGS. 3a and 3b that in both configurations of the closure device incorporating the anchoring plate according to the invention the tensioning member 27 and its hooking member 29 is retained in some way, so as not to be of hindrance to the user.

Furthermore, in the configuration of FIG. 3b , due to the presence of the restraining element 17 of the hooking seat 15 of the extendable member 9, accidental release from said hooking seat 15 will be prevented and the hooking member 29 of the tensioning member 27 will be firmly held, even in the case in which the user walks or climbs a slope.

It is therefore evident that the invention allows to fully achieve the above mentioned objects.

It is also evident that the above disclosure referring to the illustrated preferred embodiment has been given by way of non-limiting example, and that several modifications and variations are available to the person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection as defined in the appended claims.

In particular, although sometimes in the present description reference has been made to a ski boot, it is obvious that the invention could be likewise applied to other kinds of sports footwear comprising a substantially rigid shell provided with a longitudinal opening and one or more closure devices arranged along said longitudinal opening and transversely to it. 

1. An anchoring plate for a closure device for a sports footwear, comprising a body provided with a plurality of hooking seats arranged in different positions, wherein the anchoring plate further comprises an extendable member which is movably connected to the body of the anchoring plate, so that the extendable member is movable from a retracted position to an extracted position relative to the body of the anchoring plate wherein the extendable member is provided with at least one hooking seat, the at least one hooking seat being provided with a restraining element.
 2. The anchoring plate according to claim 1, wherein the restraining element acts as a safety element preventing accidental release from the hooking seat of the extendable member.
 3. The anchoring plate according to claim 2, wherein the extendable member has a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the at least one hooking seat of the extendable member is obtained by bending the distal end of the extendable member into a hook shape having a mouth oriented towards the proximal end of the extendable member.
 4. The anchoring plate according to claim 2, wherein the restraining element is an elastic retaining member.
 5. The anchoring plate according to claim 3, wherein the retaining member is an elastic restraining element.
 6. The anchoring plate according to claim 2, wherein the restraining element is an elastic retaining member comprising an elastic tab which is defined by a corresponding “U”-shaped opening in the body of the extendable member and comprising a bulge oriented towards the mouth of the hooking seat and facing the same.
 7. The anchoring plate according to claim 1, wherein the restraining element is a mechanical restraining element.
 8. The anchoring plate according to claim 1, wherein the extendable member is translatable relative to the body of the anchoring plate from the retracted position to the extracted position and vice versa.
 9. The anchoring plate according to claim 1, wherein the extendable member is pivotable relative to the body of the anchoring plate from the retracted position to the extracted position and vice versa.
 10. The anchoring plate according to claim 1, wherein the body of the anchoring plate is shaped as a rack comprising a plurality of teeth arranged in series and defining corresponding hooking seats.
 11. A closure device for a sports footwear, comprising a supporting plate, a closure lever pivotally connected to the supporting plate, a tensioning member pivotally articulated to the closure lever and provided with a hooking member, and an anchoring plate provided with hooking seats for the hooking member of the tensioning member, wherein the anchoring plate further comprises an extendable member which is movably connected to the body of the anchoring plate, so that the extendable member is movable from a retracted position to an extracted position relative to the body of the anchoring plate wherein the extendable member is provided with at least one hooking seat, the at least one hooking seat being provided with a restraining element.
 12. The anchoring plate according to claim 11, wherein the restraining element acts as a safety element preventing accidental release of the hooking member of the tensioning member from the hooking seat of the extendable member.
 13. The closure device according to claim 12, wherein the extendable member has a proximal end and a distal end and wherein the at least one hooking seat of the extendable member is obtained by bending the distal end of the extendable member into a hook shape having a mouth oriented towards the proximal end of the extendable member.
 14. The closure device according to claim 12, wherein the restraining element is an elastic retaining member.
 15. The closure device according to claim 13, wherein the retaining member is an elastic restraining element.
 16. The closure device according to claim 12, wherein the restraining element is an elastic retaining member comprising an elastic tab which is defined by a corresponding “U”-shaped opening in the body of the extendable member and comprising a bulge oriented towards the mouth of the hooking seat and facing the same.
 17. The closure device according to claim 11, wherein the restraining element is a mechanical restraining element.
 18. The closure device according to claim 11, wherein the extendable member is translatable relative to the body of the anchoring plate from the retracted position to the extracted position and vice versa.
 19. The closure device according to claim 11, wherein the extendable member is pivotable relative to the body of the anchoring plate from the retracted position to the extracted position and vice versa.
 20. The closure device according to claim 11, wherein the body of the anchoring plate is shaped as a rack comprising a plurality of teeth arranged in series and defining corresponding hooking seats. 